The Witch Read online

  BOUND AND BROKEN

  Melas: Book Two

  by MelasD

  Disclaimer

  Copyright © 2021 MelasD / V.A. Lewis

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form possible without permission from the author or publisher. For permissions, contact the author or publisher through email at [email protected]

  Cover art design and illustration by Sarah Holmes Design and Patrick Foster Design/Joe Thoong

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  Table of Contents

  Contents

  BOUND AND BROKEN Melas: Book Two

  Disclaimer

  Table of Contents

  Part One: Into the World

  Chapter 1: Adrian - Far From Home

  Chapter 2: Adrian II - Xander's Academy

  Chapter 3: Freedom

  Chapter 4: Alleyway Meeting

  Chapter 5: The Plague Doctor

  Chapter 6: The Orphanage

  Chapter 7: Kidnapping Thugs

  Chapter 8: Secrets Exchanged

  Chapter 9: Adventure

  Chapter 10: Interlude IV - Lilith

  Part Two: Waning Trust

  Chapter 11: The Hunters Guild

  Chapter 12: Rematch

  Chapter 13: Bestiary

  Chapter 14: Legacy and Licensed

  Chapter 15: Monster Hunting

  Chapter 16: Extermination

  Chapter 17: Escort Mission

  Chapter 18: Tinkering

  Chapter 19: Adrian III - Field Trip

  Chapter 20: Adrian IV - Deal

  Chapter 21: Scenic View

  Chapter 22: Beach Episode

  Chapter 23: Saved and Spent

  Chapter 24: Smuggling Job

  Chapter 25: Pursued

  Chapter 26: Pirate Attack

  Chapter 27: Hidden Lair

  Chapter 28: Interrogation

  Chapter 29: Next Step

  Chapter 30: Infiltration

  Chapter 31: Enemies

  Chapter 32: Thoughts and Actions

  Chapter 33: Ambush

  Chapter 34: Dockside Encounter

  Chapter 35: Tired

  Chapter 36: Trust

  Chapter 37: Allies and Enemies

  Chapter 38: Interlude V - The Emperor

  Author’s Note:

  Part One: Into the World

  Into the World

  Chapter 1: Adrian - Far From Home

  A boy lazily rested his chin on the palm of his hand. He glanced out the window, and out into the blue sky.

  It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. Birds were chirping. There were few clouds to be seen, and it was the perfect time to be outside.

  He longed to go out. To play in an open field. To just talk to his friends. Spend time with the people he cared about. But—

  "Adrian."

  He looked up.

  At the front of the classroom, past the dozens of other children staring at him from their seats, a woman stood with her arms crossed, glaring at him. She adjusted the glasses on her face, and spoke sternly to him.

  "Adrian, I have been calling your name for the past minute."

  "Yes, Ma’am?" Adrian asked simply. A moment passed, and the teacher frowned.

  "Where are your manners? It’s no wonder you’ve been failing your language and formality— never mind," she muttered under her breath. The teacher straightened, and she spoke clearly. "I asked you a question. Do you require me to repeat it? If so, please ask nicely."

  Adrian did not know what the question was. He was not paying attention. So he just shrugged.

  "Sorry, Mrs Hill. Didn’t catch it."

  That was all he said. The teacher sighed resignedly, and addressed the rest of the class.

  "Fine. Since Mr Adrian could not answer the question. Is anyone else willing to volunteer?"

  A hand shot up immediately. Adrian leaned back on his chair as he turned slightly towards the figure.

  "Ah, Ms Onia."

  "Thank you, Mrs Hill." A pink haired girl stood up and smiled politely. She cleared her throat and began answering the question. "The Mana Revolution was started over a hundred years ago in 21 TD— 21 years before the Demon Lord was killed. The invention of mana tools was what allowed the Great Hero Xander to unite our continent of Soli to defeat the Demons in the Final Holy War."

  "That is correct. You may sit, Ms Onia." The teacher nodded approvingly.

  Onia pulled her chair forward, as she took a seat. But not before she cast a glance at Adrian, and… sneered.

  She laughed as she whispered something to a group of children, but Adrian paid them no mind. He did not care about their antics. He rested his head on his desk, as time seemed to drone on forever. Before finally, the bell rang. Three strikes, and class was dismissed.

  Adrian slowly packed up his things, as people around him began quickly heading out of the classroom. He stopped as someone approached him. The boy did not even need to see who it was.

  "Alice."

  "Adrian!" a blonde-haired girl exclaimed. She leaned over and looked at him inquisitively. "I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you the answer. I didn’t know what it was either."

  "It’s fine. Thanks," he said, showing not a hint of concern in his voice. "I don’t really care about history. So, it’s not like it matters."

  "I know," she said with a nod. "And that’s why I’m worried. I heard you failed the recent history test. I— what if you get expelled!"

  The girl waved her hands frantically. She peered at the boy, as he got up with his books.

  "I won’t." Adrian pushed his chair in. He headed out of the classroom as Alice followed him.

  "I know you’re top in the class for most other subjects. But we’re commoners!" she protested. "And if you get kicked out, I won’t…" she trailed off.

  Adrian shrugged. He knew for a fact he was not going to get expelled for failing a few subjects. And even if he did, he was not sure how it affected Alice. So he was not sure how to respond.

  He opened his mouth to say something, but a voice interrupted him.

  "Well, if the school does expel him, why not just leave too, Alice?" Onia approached the two of them with a group of boys and girls alike. "Since you’re commoners, it’s not like the Academy has anything to lose if you’re both gone." She laughed, and her posse laughed alongside her.

  Alice paled.

  "L-lady Onia," she spoke quickly. "I do appreciate your concern for the school, but I would like to stay in the Academy!"

  "Too bad. I’d prefer it if you would not." The pinked hair girl sighed wistfully. "Honestly, I heard that sometimes commoners are enrolled every few years to appease the public. But only a single one. I don’t understand why there’s two filthy commoners standing in front of me. Do you, Ilyse?"

  "No, my Lady."

  A girl agreed with her, and Alice took a step back. "I apologise for the offense—" the blonde girl started, but Adrian spoke over her.

  "Alice, what are you doing? Let’s go."

  She blinked. "I—, uh, what?"

  "You said you wanted me to teach you maths? Come on, the libraries this way."

  "But—"

  "You insolent peasant!" a voice called out. "You’re in the presence of Lady Onia. You are a lowly commoner, address her with respect! "

  "Why should I?" Adrian picked his ear as he asked the question.

  This time, it was Alice who piped up. She grabbed the boy’s hand, and spoke in a hushed voice. "Adrian, Lady Onia is from the Octavius family. She’s the daughter of a Duke! If you speak rudely to her, she can get you in a lot of trouble."

  "Listen to your fellow comm
oner, Adrian," Onia spoke casually. She stared down her hand as she played with her fingernails. "A lot of people are unhappy with you. If you continue to push your luck, I might just have a word with my father, and everyone will finally get what they want."

  Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Is that a threat?"

  "It's a fact," she answered simply. She probably expected him to apologize and beg for forgiveness. But instead, Adrian just laughed. "W-what are you laughing at?"

  "Sorry," he said as he wiped a tear from his eye. "I just think it’s funny that you can’t do anything by yourself, so you have no choice but to speak to your dad just to deal with a boy younger than you. That’s just so… childish."

  "Why you—" Onia sputtered, but Adrian was not finished.

  "And you want me to show you respect? Sorry, respect is earned where I’m from. With how rotten you are, I won’t give you any respect even if you’re the Emperor himself."

  There were more shouts of outrage. But Adrian ignored it all. He grinned, satisfied with himself. Then he turned around and walked away from the small crowd.

  "Are you coming, Alice?"

  "What?" The blonde girl looked back between the angry group of nobles, and at the boy as he disappeared headed the corridor. Then she quickly ran after him. "I— yes. Wait for me!" she called out.

  Onia watched the two as they turned the corner. Ilyse spoke up from next to her.

  "Are you just going to let him get away with that?"

  "Of course not," the pink haired girl said.

  A vicious smile drew itself across her face, as her friend took a step back.

  "I’ll make him pay for what he said."

  Later, Alice chastised Adrian in the library for what he did, but he could not see why she was upset. Then they studied for a few hours before night fell, and Adrian returned to his room.

  Xander’s Academy was a rich institution. The most famous academy in the entire world. Its walls and floors were made of a beautiful marble, and the hallways were well adorned.

  Even Adrian heard about this Academy back in Villamcreek, thousands of miles away across the sea.

  As such, there were no roommates. Everyone got their own rooms. After all, students who enrolled in the Academy could afford it.

  Even Alice.

  She was not a noble. But she was rich. She was the daughter of a rich merchant who traded between the two continents of Soli and Vitae.

  So while they were both commoners, Alice was, in fact, nothing like Adrian. But in a place where everyone else had an aristocratic background, they became friends.

  Or the closest thing to a friend Adrian could find in this Academy.

  Because this was the Holy Xan Empire. And while he and Alice shared a commonality in their status, she was still from this country.

  For all Adrian liked his caretaker, Fria— who was not here right now— and for all Adrian took his academics seriously, he did not like this place at all. Because…

  They were the ones who tried to kill Melas.

  And they even killed her mom, Ms Aria.

  So, he did not like their history. He did not trust their so-called truths. Even if he left his home and crossed an ocean to come to Xanderia, he did not do it because he wanted to come here. He only did it because that was the only way he could get what he wanted.

  He was going to make use of every resource he had. Make use of every opportunity he could get. To take advantage of the Academy for himself.

  And one day.

  Adrian thought to himself, as he raised a hand up and stared at it.

  I am going to see Melas again.

  After all, that was why he came here.

  Chapter 2: Adrian II - Xander's Academy

  The next day, Adrian went about his classes as usual. He treated it like an ordinary day, but he was not an idiot.

  He noticed the stares. The sidelong glances. As his classmates whispered to each other when he walked by them.

  "Immature," he muttered to himself.

  Adrian expected Onia to try and get back at him somehow. But he was not expecting this. Spreading rumors so people would avoid him? This was… normal.

  No one ever spoke to him. Except for Alice. So, it was not like this would make a difference.

  In fact, most students already did not like him. He had gotten into a few fights because he refused to call any of them by their status.

  His stubbornness on that issue was also the reason why he was failing his language and formality class. But that did not matter to him. Such skills would not help him in his goal. To find Melas.

  He remembered the black haired girl. So quiet. Always calm. She was nothing like the students in the Academy.

  Even in the Academy, people thought of Adrian as a genius. But she was different. She taught him things he did not know. She was a true genius.

  So, Adrian saw no reason to respect any of the nobles that went to this school, and he couldn't care less about their petty squabbles with him. He simply ignored all the looks he was getting.

  Then the bell sounded twice. For lunch. And class was dismissed as everyone went looking for something to eat.

  Adrian packed his things. Got up to leave the classroom. And—

  He walked out. The boy frowned as he looked around.

  Where’s Alice?

  He saw her during classes. And she usually went to grab lunch with him during their break. But she was nowhere to be found.

  A thought. A premonition weighed in on Adrian’s head. But he pushed it aside for the moment.

  Maybe she’s in the cafeteria.

  He found himself searching for the familiar blonde girl in the large dining hall, but he could not find her. He spent another 20 minutes looking around, but eventually gave up.

  She could’ve been busy. Plus, it was not like she should always follow him around. They weren’t even that close.

  So, Adrian ate his lunch. Today, it was seafood. A luxurious meal for the boy. He had never even seen a crab until the first seafood lunch he had in the Academy. He savored each bite, then went back to class.

  He saw Alice there. He thought she saw him too, but she quickly returned to her seat. That’s…

  Adrian was about to approach her, but the teacher came. So the boy got back to his seat. And while this was not history or language and formality class, Adrian did not pay any attention.

  Instead, he kept casting glances back at Alice, as she avoided his gaze. He knew something was off. He had known since lunch. But he finally confirmed his suspicions when he caught a glimpse of Onia.

  She saw him too. And for a moment. She just smiled sweetly at him. Then it warped into a smug grin. And she turned back to facing the front.

  It was only during their dueling class, did Adrian manage to speak with Alice. Boys and girls were not separate. They could face each other without a problem.

  Adrian was excellent in dueling. He may not have been very proficient with the sword, since he had not learned how to use it until he came to the Academy. But he could use mana tools well.

  His dad had taught him how to use a gun. And he could actually aim well.

  So with a sword in one hand, he parried his opponent's swing. And as they pulled back to thrust at him, he used the gun in his other to shoot them in the chest.

  The other boy recoiled. The blast knocked him back, but he was still up. Then Adrian struck him across the chest, and he collapsed.

  Adrian stood over him. The other boy was not dead. They were using dulled swords and stun bullets. It still hurt a lot, but it was far from lethal.

  The other boy was panting and gasping for air on the ground. And while Adrian was sweating and breathing heavily, he was not exhausted. He was used to physical exertion, unlike his opponent. That was the difference in their background showing. In how they were raised.

  A noble would never have to lift a finger for themselves. Even if they trained hard, they never struggled the same way a regular person would. So Adrian had more stamina.r />
  The brown-haired boy grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat off his forehead, when he saw Alice exiting the training room. Adrian quickly excused himself, and followed after her.

  While running out the door, he nearly bumped into another boy with light blue skin and slightly pointed ears.

  "Excuse me," Adrian said in a hurry.

  "A-apologies."

  Adrian stepped past the boy, and chased after Alice. He saw her walking down the corridor, headed towards the washroom.

  He approached her and called out her name.

  "Alice."

  The blonde girl turned around and blinked.

  "Adrian? What are you—" she cut herself off, and stepped back. "I’m sorry, I can’t speak to you."

  "Why?" he asked. "What did Onia say to you?"

  It was a guess. An assumption. But it was correct.

  Alice shied back. She lowered her head, and avoided making eye contact with him.

  "She…" The girl hesitated. "L-lady Onia was kind enough to give me a warning. To stop speaking with you. She told me that if I did not listen, she would not only get me kicked out of the Academy but drive my father bankrupt."

  "That coward," Adrian said as he clenched a fist. "She went after your family’s company?

  "Yes," Alice answered. She bowed her head, and turned around. "I think of you as a friend, Adrian. B-but I… I can’t be seen talking to you. I’m so sorry."

  With that said, the girl hurried off.

  And Adrian could only grit his teeth as he watched her go.

  It was petty politics. But the kind a noble child would learn from their parents. It made sense to Adrian, but he did not like it.

  He went about the next few weeks dealing with constant stares. Odd looks by his classmates. And the occasional awkward eye contact with Alice.

  He could understand her plight. She had to worry about the repercussions from rich nobles on her family. And unlike him, she could actually get expelled too. So he did not blame her for it.

  But he was alone now. And yet, to him, the most infuriating thing was not having no one to talk to.

  It was the constant taunting that was irritating.